The ISU music department will be hosting the fourth Mid-Winter Cello Seminar with three master classes and two concerts featuring ISU students, faculty and others this weekend.

The seminar is scheduled to take place at Music Hall in the choral room and Martha-Ellen Tye Recital Hall this weekend. Master classes begin at 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., with a concert at 5 p.m. Saturday. Sunday the seminar moves to Drake, with a 10 a.m. master class and a 3 p.m. concert.

Organized by George Work, professor of music at Iowa State, along with Julie McGinnis, cello professor at Drake, the seminar will feature three ISU students: Henna Chou, senior in environmental science; Elizabeth Nelson, senior in biology; and Jessica Stumphy, senior in anthropology. There will also be three Drake students and three high school students featured.

“There’s a lot of good music making that goes on in Iowa, but it’s kind of isolated,” Work says. “This seminar is kind of a chance to get some cross-ideas, and for students to meet cellists from other schools.”

Also known as the Cello Weekend, this year’s musical event will feature professional cellists Danny Rothmueller of the L.A. Philharmonic and Vagram Seradijan of the University of Houston are guest artists.

During the master classes, anyone interested will be able to hear the guests’ views and advice on music.

Chou, a third-time participant in the event, says both the concerts and master classes are beneficial.

“The master classes are a good opportunity for people to hear about cello techniques,” she says. “And for those who aren’t really interested in that, it’s nice to hear an all-cello concert.”